Cincinnati @ Chicago GameThread, Jul 10, 2008 1:20 PM CDT

Pregame Thread: Cubs vs. Reds, Thursday 7/10, 1:20 CT

by Al on Jul 10, 2008 11:30 AM CDT in Game Threads

Cincinnati @ Chicago

Next Game

Cincinnati Reds
@ Chicago Cubs

Thursday, Jul 10, 2008, 1:20 PM CDT
Wrigley Field

Bronson Arroyo vs Ted Lilly

Partly cloudy. Winds blowing out to center field at 10-20 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 80.

Complete Coverage >

With the quick turnaround to a day game today, this thread will be fairly short and to the point. There'll be quite a bit of scoreboard-watching this afternoon as both the Cardinals (Braden Looper vs. the Phillies' Jamie Moyer) and Brewers (Dave Bush vs. the Rockies' Jorge de la Rosa) have day games, too.

Meanwhile, here are some more photos from last night's win:

Geovany Soto scores on Jeff Keppinger's error in the 2nd inning

Carlos Zambrano singles in the 8th inning

Click on photos to open a larger version in a new browser window. Photos by David Sameshima

Today's Starting Pitchers


T. Lilly Cubs	vs.	B. Arroyo Reds


9-5	W-L	6-7
4.47	ERA	5.82
105	SO	91
39	BB	38
19	HR	18
vs. Cin	--	vs. Cubs

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2008 - Ted Lilly	9-5	19	19	0	0	0	0	112.2	108	59	56	19	39	105	4.47	1.30

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2008 - Bronson Arroyo	6-7	19	19	0	0	0	0	99.0	125	71	64	18	38	91	5.82	1.65

After starting off this season in horrific fashion, Ted Lilly is 9-2, 3.54 in his last 16 starts -- very similar to the numbers he put up last season. His one start against the Reds this year was this bad one on April 17, but as noted, Lilly has become YLLIL (turned it around) since then. His only career win vs. the Reds came on April 4, 2007 at Cincinnati.

Bronson Arroyo is most famous in Cub lore for hitting two home runs off Glendon Rusch in 2006, when he was 4-0, 1.01 in five starts against a horrid Cubs team. Last year, Arroyo became OYORRA in a bad way for the Reds, and particularly vs. the Cubs, who pounded him all year (0-3, 5.28 vs. the 2007 Cubs). He has not faced the 2008 version of the Cubs yet.

Let's be realistic. It's going to be warm and somewhat humid today with the wind blowing out. Lilly and Arroyo rank 5th and 6th in the NL in HR allowed. Watch for long balls on both sides this afternoon.

Today's game is on cable in Ohio (so EI viewers will see the Reds feed), on WGN nationally, and at the MLB.com Mediacenter.

MLB.com Gameday (2007 version)

MLB.com Gameday (2008 version)

Baseball-reference.com game preview

Today's first pitch thread will be up at 1:15 pm CT and the overflow comment threads will post at 2:30 pm and 3:30 pm CT.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

0 recs | Comment 324 comments

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Comments

Second!

DAMN!

The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love. ~Bryant Gumbel

by Blue W on Jul 10, 2008 11:30 AM CDT 0 recs

punk.

I was going to do that.

"We expect to win. We go out to win. So we're just living up to our own expectations." Derrek Lee, 5/29/08

by drewishdrewid on Jul 10, 2008 11:31 AM CDT up 0 recs

Does this mean first is still available?

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by dat cubfan daver on Jul 10, 2008 12:42 PM CDT up 0 recs

Third!!

Jimmyeatworld

by Jimmyeatworld on Jul 10, 2008 11:31 AM CDT 0 recs

Line-ups anyone?

Jimmyeatworld

by Jimmyeatworld on Jul 10, 2008 11:35 AM CDT 0 recs

Haven't seen anything yet, but I hope DeRosa is in there.

.583 in 12 AB’s vs. Bronson Arroyo.

The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love. ~Bryant Gumbel

by Blue W on Jul 10, 2008 11:39 AM CDT up 0 recs

I think that stat.

will precipitate his being in the line-up. Fonty needs to be a pinch hitter today.

Jimmyeatworld

by Jimmyeatworld on Jul 10, 2008 11:42 AM CDT up 0 recs

Nice.

These are the saddest of possible words: "Tinker to Evers to Chance"

by slcathena on Jul 10, 2008 12:01 PM CDT up 0 recs

Wind blowing out eh? let's put up double digit runs on Arroyo and the hapless Reds

just got back from Canada and OMG what a GREAT TIME to get back. Harden and Gaudin? R U kidding me? No more track stars converted to baseball players named Patterson on our team? Damn, I think I need to leave the country again in late Sept and return in OCT lol. wOOhOOO I”M LOVING THIS

Hello again, everybody. It's a bee-yooo-tiful day for baseball. --Harry Caray

by chi-townbleacherbum on Jul 10, 2008 11:39 AM CDT 0 recs

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Jul 10, 2008 11:53 AM CDT up 0 recs

lol!

Welcome back, and yeah it was pretty crazy. I’m thrilled, not going to lie.

These are the saddest of possible words: "Tinker to Evers to Chance"

by slcathena on Jul 10, 2008 12:02 PM CDT up 0 recs

what channel is the game on today?

by cubswynn on Jul 10, 2008 11:48 AM CDT 0 recs

WGN.

At least in the greater Chicagoland area.

Jimmyeatworld

by Jimmyeatworld on Jul 10, 2008 11:49 AM CDT up 0 recs

thanks

i moved to a different location for work and some funny guy in IT here must not be a cubs fan…...

cubs.com doesn’t work, googling cubs doesn’t work…..good thing mlb.tv works

by cubswynn on Jul 10, 2008 11:50 AM CDT up 0 recs

You're in Des Moines, right?

Jimmyeatworld

by Jimmyeatworld on Jul 10, 2008 11:51 AM CDT up 0 recs

yes

good memory? or how did you know?

by cubswynn on Jul 10, 2008 11:53 AM CDT up 0 recs

You went to the I Cubs game recently right?

I remembered because I’m from Iowa too.

Jimmyeatworld

by Jimmyeatworld on Jul 10, 2008 11:54 AM CDT up 0 recs

ah

yah went to the game last night…..it was a great one to watch

what part of iowa?

by cubswynn on Jul 10, 2008 11:55 AM CDT up 0 recs

NE Iowa.

An hour north of CR, an hour east of CF, and an hour west of Dubuque. A little hamlet named Manchester.

Jimmyeatworld

by Jimmyeatworld on Jul 10, 2008 11:57 AM CDT up 0 recs

home of

jim nussle and beavers lounge

by cubswynn on Jul 10, 2008 11:59 AM CDT up 0 recs

Holy crap.

I haven’t thought of Beavers in a long time. Last time I was back I went there b/c Hoots is no longer, well, because Hoot himself is dead… I knew Hoot well, and his bar was a great place.

Jimmyeatworld

by Jimmyeatworld on Jul 10, 2008 12:02 PM CDT up 0 recs

can't say i knew hoot

but i was nussle’s right hand man on the failed campaign for governor, so got the privledge of going to and from manchester A LOT….i spend more days at the days inn than at my dsm apartment haha

by cubswynn on Jul 10, 2008 12:06 PM CDT up 0 recs

Hoot passed before Nussle ran for governor.

I think they changed the name of Hoots to the Hawk stop. It was across the street from Beaver’s and just down the street from the Theater. Nussle is a great guy, you might have met my father. He’s a retired dentist, and without giving up my identity, his last name is a decidedly non-masculine color. I was in Mike McMahon’s class at WD.

Jimmyeatworld

by Jimmyeatworld on Jul 10, 2008 12:10 PM CDT up 0 recs

small world

well it’s nice to meet ya

by cubswynn on Jul 10, 2008 12:14 PM CDT up 0 recs

You as well.

Jimmyeatworld

by Jimmyeatworld on Jul 10, 2008 12:16 PM CDT up 0 recs

Not too far...

...from Field of Dreams, I’d guess?

by Shawon O Meter on Jul 10, 2008 12:44 PM CDT up 0 recs

Dude!!!

I went to college in Dubuque and visited Manchester a few times with my band. I always thought I’d be dismembered and eaten there.
What took you there?

by chilango2 on Jul 10, 2008 1:11 PM CDT up 0 recs

ch 9

WGN

by halfblindcubbiegirl on Jul 10, 2008 11:49 AM CDT up 0 recs

since it is slow...

in case you missed it, Harden’s press conference:

http://wgntv.trb.com/sports/

He seems really down to earth, and excited (if surprised) to be here. I think we got a high character, high talent pitcher plus another good arm w/gaudin (that’s what makes this trade for me). There may be high risk, but when he’s on he is arguably a top 5 or 10 pitcher in baseball.

"I'll play any day. I don't care if I'm 0-for-30, playing baseball is my PASSION. I'll go out and play." - Geo Soto

by CubbyBlues on Jul 10, 2008 11:49 AM CDT 0 recs

In as much that Rich Harden is excited to be on playoff contender

I wonder how Gallagher & Murton feel about leaving one and joining a club that is mediocre at best. Sure, there are more opportunities for those guys to play, but who wouldn’t be depressed to leave a Cubs team that could play in the World Series for the first time in 63 years? I know I would be.

by JFCubFan on Jul 10, 2008 11:53 AM CDT up 0 recs

well

Murton wasn’t going to get to play on the team anyway. At Oakland, isn’t he already going into the lineup?

"We expect to win. We go out to win. So we're just living up to our own expectations." Derrek Lee, 5/29/08

by drewishdrewid on Jul 10, 2008 11:55 AM CDT up 0 recs

Go Jamie Moyer!

I’d love to see former Cub Jamie Moyer beat the Cardinals today. Let’s hope he gets career win 238 today. Too bad, he only got 28 wins with the Cubs.

"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Jul 10, 2008 11:49 AM CDT 0 recs

I remember when Moyer first came

to the big leagues with the Cubs. He is beguiling.

Jimmyeatworld

by Jimmyeatworld on Jul 10, 2008 11:51 AM CDT up 0 recs

i HATE the phillies

way more than the cards, or sox, or yankees – or any other team. But gosh dang it, I hope they win today so the Cubs can have some more breathing room!

p.s. – guess Mulder coming back won’t count as the cards adding an ace arm…LOL

"I'll play any day. I don't care if I'm 0-for-30, playing baseball is my PASSION. I'll go out and play." - Geo Soto

by CubbyBlues on Jul 10, 2008 11:51 AM CDT up 0 recs

Sure enough,

Mulder will never be the pitcher he was before. He really should hang it up.

Jimmyeatworld

by Jimmyeatworld on Jul 10, 2008 11:52 AM CDT up 0 recs

Hope Harden Turns Out Better Than Mulder and Zito

Mulder and Zito have been bad since leaving Oakland. I hope Harden can be at least as good with the Cubs as Hudson has been with the Braves.

"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Jul 10, 2008 12:03 PM CDT up 0 recs

Hating them more than the Sox or Yanks, whatever

But it makes zero sense to hate them more than the Cards!!!! May I ask why?

These are the saddest of possible words: "Tinker to Evers to Chance"

by slcathena on Jul 10, 2008 12:04 PM CDT up 0 recs

haha sure

when i was a kid, i LOVED the blue jays. My best friend was a braves fan, and when they played the jays in the series i decided to go against him lol. the next time around, they played the phillies. Lenny Dykstra was REPULSIVE, John Kruk (though I think he does ok on ESPN) still makes me cringe, Darren Daulton, pete incavalia, mickey morandini – they all had long greasy hair and chewed tabacco like it was candy. Ever since that ‘93 series, I have thought of the phillies as a disgusting, repulsive, pathetic organization of baseball (first impressions DO count haha). As for how I became a cubs fan…when I was 11 or 12 living in Ames, IA I couldn’t fall asleep one night. So I surfed the radio waves, and found Pat and Ron on KRNT Des Moines – the cubs were on a west coast swing against the padres w/sammy sosa as their headline guy, and it was 1998. I hopelessly fell in love and follow them almost religiously now.

Anyways, that was probably a long answer – there ya go! and let’s win this game!

"I'll play any day. I don't care if I'm 0-for-30, playing baseball is my PASSION. I'll go out and play." - Geo Soto

by CubbyBlues on Jul 10, 2008 12:36 PM CDT up 0 recs

lol!

Awesome!

I was actually wondering if it had something to do with that Dykstra/Kruk team. They always struck me as thugs. lol. :P

These are the saddest of possible words: "Tinker to Evers to Chance"

by slcathena on Jul 10, 2008 12:38 PM CDT up 0 recs

+1, Re: Dykstra

by Shawon O Meter on Jul 10, 2008 12:45 PM CDT up 0 recs

Does any else hear "Looper" and always think...

“A looper, you know, a caddy, a looper, a jock.”

*Synth intro to "Jump"*

by SouthsideCub on Jul 10, 2008 12:03 PM CDT up 0 recs

I will from now on.

The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love. ~Bryant Gumbel

by Blue W on Jul 10, 2008 12:04 PM CDT up 0 recs

So I tell him I'm a Pro Jock and guess who they give me...

The Dahli Lama. 12th son of the Lama.

"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." - Alvin Dark

by Fishbone2 on Jul 10, 2008 12:11 PM CDT up 0 recs

Big hitter the Lama

He hits it into this 12,000 foot crevice at the base of this glacier. You know what he says to me?

Current temperature in hell: 45 degrees F - and falling!

by wnielsen on Jul 10, 2008 12:12 PM CDT up 0 recs

gunga galunga

gunga gunga la gunga

*Synth intro to "Jump"*

by SouthsideCub on Jul 10, 2008 12:13 PM CDT up 0 recs

You do drugs, Danny?

Yup, every day.

Goooooood.

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on Jul 10, 2008 12:37 PM CDT up 0 recs

I like ya Betty.

That’s Danny sir.

"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." - Alvin Dark

by Fishbone2 on Jul 10, 2008 12:39 PM CDT up 0 recs

The shortest path between two points is not always a straight line.

"We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope."

by californiachicagoan on Jul 10, 2008 12:40 PM CDT up 0 recs

He says Gunga Gulunga...Gungla Gungla.

"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." - Alvin Dark

by Fishbone2 on Jul 10, 2008 12:13 PM CDT up 0 recs